Top rack for automobiles



Jan. 10, 1933 g CHANEY 1,894,083

TO]? BACK FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 8. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w INVENTOR,

(/Wfj- B ORNEY I.

Jan 16, 1933,

Y J. O. CHANEY TOP RACK FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI v I0; (Wain? W TTORNEYn.

Patented Jan .10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JONATHAN oi'cnsu'nx, or NORTH noLLYwoon, camroama r02 naox on au'rouomnns l Application filed September a, 1930! Serial no. 480,458.

This invention pertains to automobile racks or parcel carriersandespeciallyto a rack adapted to be set up section'by section by an'individual person and arranged-over and above th'e'top of an automobile.

As is well known, automobile tops vary greatly width and length and also in the de- ,nection, it is anfobjectto provide means for rigidly adjusting the 'top rack in any of its several vertically adjustable positions with respect to the solid eaves along the sides of the crowned top. A further object is to provide for the adjustment of supporting means laterallyto accommodate the rack to different widths of .tops and to e'fi'ect the rigid setting of the rack on the adjusted supporting means and, in this connection, it is a further object to provide positive means for drawing the supporting means inwardly with respect to the rack to accomplish its firm support against solid side eaves along the base of the top crown. i

It is especially desirable to provide a mounting means capable of gripping the eaves of the crown and being of such character as not in any manner to interfere with the opening andclosing of the side doors of the vehicle.

This invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and'having, with the above,'additional objects and advantages, and whose construction, combination 'and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the description of the'herewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the J scope, principle and spirit of the invention as itis more directly claimed hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a portion of an automobile showing the improved rack mountedon its top eaves and m a position over and above the car top.

. Figure 2 is a perspective of one unit of the rack bottom.

Figure 3 is a perspectiveof coordinate ends 1 of a cross or end section and a bottom sup'-. porting side section. v 1- Figure 4 is a perspective of a part of one of the frame end sections and its supporting bracket device.

A great preponderance of automobiles, at u I this-time, are of the so called closedtype and have side doors which close, at the top, close to the eaves'E which form. securing means for 'the top cover C. The eaves extend along the sides of the car frame top members F and are, therefore, very rigid and provide a'non- )5 yielding base or foundation against which may be contracted vise-like actin side ripping members 2, whose lower en s may ave inner frictional facing 3 to protect andfto non-slidably engage the top holding. or bind- 7 ing eaves E.

From this it will be seen that means are provided which are capable! of being drawn vise-like against the solid, frame-supported to eaves. hese gripping'member's extend vertically and are slidably mounted in downturned bracket limbs 4, which are slotted at 5 to receive bolts 6 whereby the grippers 2 can be set at a desired adjusted position determined ,according to the height of the crown of the top C above its fastening eaves E.

. The bracket members include inwardly and horizontally directed limbs 7 slotted at 8 to receive fastening screws or through laterally extending plates 10, adjustable on the bracket 7 to a osition determined by the width of the top the plate 10 and the bracket 7 being rigidly clamped to ether in safe, non-shifting position by the astening bolts 9.

' The plates 10 extend from end members 11, of which apair is provided and which are' adapted to be thrown transversely across thetop of the vehicle by an individual setting up the rack; the .end members being ri 'd wi the plate 10 and being provided wit downturned lugs 12,'receiving books 13 of a drawbolt device by which the brackets 7 of which there is one at each corner of the frame, may 1 bolts 9 passing 35 be positively drawn inward so as to contract the grip members 2 against the horizontal top eaves 3.

This draw-bolt device includes a threaded 5 tube 14, fixed to the hook 13 and receiving a bolt shank 15, Whose head 16 can set in against a shoulder 17 of the bracket 7.

It will be seen from the above that the end frame members 11 can be set up easily by a single person in temporary arrangement for the application of longitudinal side frame members 20, which are adapted to be secured detachably, at will. to the coordinate and adjacent ends of the frame members 11.

A means is shown for readily interlocking the frame sections 11 and 20 and the said means may consist of top corner hooks 11 on the members 11 and reverse corner hooks 20' on the members 20 and mutual reverse hooks 11 and 20 at the lower corner of the frame members. When the members have been interhooked, they are securely fastened by means of a dog or latch 21. pivoted at 22 against the face of the member 11 so as to be pressed down across the top of'the opposed hook 20 after which they may be fastened in dogging position as by a cotter pin 23, insertable through the register holes 24 and 25 in the dog and frame member.

The side frame members 20 are provided with inwardly directed shelf flanges 26 and on these are supported a rack bottom which preferably consists of a plurality of units 27, which are shown as of lattice construction or form, thus achieving strength and lightness.

. very securely drawn in by the vise bolts 15, which draw the gripping members 2 in against solidly backed up top eaves E.

From the above it will be seen that the entire rack is of collapsible form and can be easily and quickly set up, member by member, over and above the car top C'through a simple, practical and thoroughly reliable fastening means, having its foundational support against the rigid body frame su ported top'eaves all without in anymanner o structing the opening and closing of the doors D.

In cases where heavy luggage is to be carried, or where the roadways may be extreme ly rough and for the-purpose of preventing longitudinal shifting of the carrier due to inertia,-incident to the sudden ap lication of ;the.brakes, there maybe used, i so desired,

to be caught over the visor hood V and over the terminal bottom ofglftters G;- these-guys ,including turnbuckle. sleeves 29 on screw shanks30, which are hooked to bracket limbs I f 7. Therefore, when the guys are tensioned up, they'firmly hold' the rack against longibolts 9 to the bracket 7 after these have been a 'set of-end guys, having hooks 28 adapted tudinal shifting movement with respect to the to C.

gVhatis claimed is:

'1. A top rack for automobiles including a frame structure having individually applicablebow sections, vertical gripping members slidable laterally on said sections for adj'ustment according to width of the top, and means attached to the frame for positively drawing said members inward against the side eaves of the to 1 2. A top rack f dr automobiles includin vertically extensible grippin members'an a section on which they are slidable laterally for adjustment accprding to width of the top, and means attached to the section for positively drawing said members inward against the side eaves of the'top, said means including draw bolts connecting the said section and the said grippin members.

3. A top rack or automobiles including independent, individually applicable end members each of which has an end plate, a sliding corner bracket, and means for rigidl securing said bracket to said plate in various adjusted positions and said means includinfi clamp olts passing therethrough thro the plate and the bracket.

4. A top rack for automobiles including a I frame structure comprising a air of separate end members each of whic has-an end late, a sliding corner bracket, means for rigidlyv securing said bracket to said plate 1n various adjusted positions, and means connecting said plate and its bracket for itivelydrawing the said bracket inwar y to desired position, and side frame members atin adjusted position and side frame members applicable to the set in members; all forming an elevated support .over the top for a sepe- A fable tray.

JONATHAN O. CHAN EY. 

